Belvedere “auction” an elaborate hoax?

In mid-December, a luxury Belvedere waterfront estate, 425 Belvedere Ave., went up for auction. The event was closed to the press, but the auctioneer told the Chronicle the place had been sold. When the Independent Journal contacted the listing agent, she was less than forthcoming with details, including the price – though the minimum bid was $25 million.

“It was an offer the seller couldn’t refuse. It was a fantastic offer,” nationally known Realtor Olivia Hsu Decker said, immediately adding, “We are now accepting backup offers. You never know if it is going to close.”

Since then, Decker, who initially contacted the IJ before the December auction essentially asking for publicity about the sale, has been uncharacteristically silent. She didn’t respond to an email sent last week.

It certainly seems likely that Decker would have contacted the press if the offer had actually turned out to be a solid one. Folks in the know have suggested that the so-called auction was just an attempt to drum up publicity for the mansion, in an attempt to find a buyer. In fact, those in the know are saying $25 million is far too much to expect for a home in Marin.